This innovative and spare picture book asks the question: When is "more" more than enough? Can a team of well-intentioned mice save their friend from hoarding too much stuff? This book about friendship and conservation wraps an important message in a beautiful package. Full color.

Annotation:Learning to keep possessions to a minimum is an art form, and this picture book uses that well-known hoarder, the magpie, to illustrate this point. Starting out with an empty nest, the magpie, with the help of some mice, begins to collect all sorts of lovely things, ranging from a Lego to a penny. But when his nest threatens to overwhelm him, the mice step in and help the magpie see the error of his ways. With lively illustrations and a spare text.

Praise

"This is a timely, clearly needed fable for contemporary society as it tries to unravel itself from excessive materialism." 03/01/2012

"[A] cautionary tale sparingly written by I. C. Springman and lavishly illustrated by Brian Lies....The loot here is so lovingly detailed, I imagine kids will have a fine time identifying hidden objects and may need to be guided to the larger message about curtailing consumption." - Sophie Blackall 05/13/2012